by Mfuneko Toyana | Aug 28, 2013 | News
X MARKS THE SPOT: Witsies came out to support their favourite SRC candidates on the first day of voting. Voting will continue until August 29. Photo: Emelia Motsai
2013 SRC elections got underway today under a hot Autumn sun, though the temperature between candidates who continued to campaign outside voting stations remained mild and friendly.
The candidates hoped to match a real person to the campaign posters, as well as encourage Witsies to participate in electing a new SRC.
Candidates get candid with voters
Project W’s Gerry Comninos said it was going well and that turnout was “relatively good”. “Compared to previous years people seem to be more engaged with the issues,” Comninos said.
“It [the turnout] will pick up tomorrow”, Comninos said as he returned to stalking the area outside Great Hall with handful of pamphlets in search of potential voters. Ntshembo Vuma of PYA agreed that voting was going well. Vuma said he had been successful in convincing people to vote and to vote for him. “A lot of people have been convinced … they’ve been engaging the issues. Our track record speaks for itself that’s why people are voting for us.”
Vuma was canvassing potential voters alongside other PYA candidates, as well as members from Daso. Perhaps it was the Daso mascot, a large grey figure that looked liked the Puss-in-Boots character from the Shrek movies, that thawed the usually icy relations between the rivals.
Not impressed by “bread and circuses”
One Witsie, however, was not impressed by the various candidates’ attempts to woo voters.
“All you’re seeing is this”, said Nonhlanhla Motanyane, 2nd year Mining, pointing to the Daso mascot and candidates handing out pamphlets. Motanyane said she did not her base her vote on catchy campaign slogans and “politicking” between candidates, which she felt was done mainly to secure their spots politicians.
“This is not a school of politics it’s about what you can do for the school.” Adi Ramaru, 2nd year BSc Earth Sciences, expressed similar sentiments. “This year I’ve been attentive. I didn’t just go for one party, its different strokes for each person. I looked into what each person has to offer,” Ramaru said.
Thobile Dlalisa, 1st year MBBCh, said she based her vote on her personal experience of the candidates.“Honestly there’s someone that I knew and I knew the programmes they’ve been working on,” Dlalisa said. SRC elections will continue until Thursday the 29th. Voting stations can be found on every Wits campus.
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by Emelia Motsai | Aug 27, 2013 | Featured 1, News
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) today denied that the concert that will be held at Wits is for Jews only.
President of SAJBD Zev Krengel said in a letter to Wits Vuvuzela that the claims, are a “desperate last-ditch tactic to discredit” the Daniel Zamir concert that will be held at Wits on August 28. Krengel did not deny the validity of the recordings but said they were a “response by an independent contractor engaged to sell tickets, who had simply misunderstood what the brief was.”
On Monday Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) released two recordings which they say is “proof of ethnic racism and profiling practiced” by some of the organisers of the concert.
A poster advertising the Daniel Zamir concert at Wits University. Image: www.jewishsa.co.za
The recordings involve two people whom BDS allege are the “organisers” of the concert, saying there were measures taken to make the concert a “Jewish only” one. According to the recordings the organisers also bought out all the tickets. This is apparently to conduct background checks on those who tried to buy tickets.
“Those making these accusations are the self-same activists whose members were responsible for the disgraceful break-up of a piano recital by an Israeli musician on the same campus earlier this year,” said Krengel.
He was referring to the concert by an Israeli musician that was “disrupted” in March. Eleven Wits student who were part of the protest at that concert were later charged by Wits for “possible contravention of the university’s codes of conduct”.
[pullquote align=”right”]”Bullying tactics of those who do not scruple to undermine those freedoms in order to push their own radical political agendas.” [/pullquote]
A Wits PhD student, Serge Tshibangu, said the allegations made by BDS were false because he had ordered a ticket and had received confirmation of the order, even though he is “African”: I totally disagree that it is a racist concert.”
Tshibangu said he ordered his tickets on Monday. He had to give his full names and identification number to buy the ticket but he understood it was so his ID number could be checked by Campus Control officers when he arrived at the concert.
Krengel said he “applauded Wits University for upholding the democratic values and freedoms that have made it so fine an academic institution and for its forthright rejection of the intimidatory, bullying tactics of those who do not scruple to undermine those freedoms in order to push their own radical political agendas.”
BDS has said it would protest outside the event.
by Emelia Motsai | Aug 27, 2013 | News
The 2013 SRC elections started today. The voting process is an easy and convenient one so if you have not yet voted you still have two more days so go for it.
STEP ONE: Go to a voting station with your student card. There are voting stations on the different campuses so find one closest to you.
STEP TWO: An election “scrutineer” will take your card to mark on it that you have voted and to check if you are eligible to vote.
STEP THREE: Get your name checked off on the register.
STEP FOUR: Get your ballot. Make sure your ballot has been signed to verify its validity.
STEP FIVE: Go to the cubicle and mark 15 circles next to your favourite candidates’ numbers. Remember you can vote for less than 15 candidates but you cannot vote for more than 15.
STEP SIX: Drop your ballot into the ballot box. Remember not to fold your ballot. Then that’s it, you’ve voted. Well done.
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by Mfuneko Toyana | Aug 23, 2013 | News
Ethan Genende: “We are project Jamie, project Ethan, project student, project you.”
Photo: Emelia Motsai
By Emelia Motsai and Mfuneko Toyana
Project W
Whether you have a problem with how Project W started or not, you still have to accept the fact that they are here. And they are causing a lot of noise. It appears that the PYA sees them as a bigger threat than Daso.
Project W strongly supports “food security” and say they have collected more than 3 000 canned food items for students in need.
Among other promises, they have promised to reopen O Village. They say they will bring international acts to the Freshers’ Ball and ensure that students receive their exam scripts back within 2 weeks of writing.
Project W promises that they will provide for the wants of students, If what the students want is “practical and can happen in a short amount of time”. They also promise to extend library hours and reintroduce coin slots for the Kudu Bucks machines.
Students say that Jamie Mighti is the only member who is vocal and constantly in the spotlight as spokesperson. Mighti is the most prominent member of Project W. Some people have even begun to call the organisation “Project Jamie”. “We are project Jamie, project Ethan, project student, project you,” said Ethan Genende from Project W.
Dikeledi Selowa: “We are not political opportunists.” Photo: Emelia Motsai
Daso
The Democratic Alliance’s youth wing, Daso, has put forward 14 candidates clad in bright blue T-shirts in the hope of breaking the Progressive Youth Alliance’s dominance at the ballot box.
The DA Student Organisation has promised Witsies the world, or at least something close. The usual promises are there: To create an SRC for all campuses; a reform of NSFAS criteria that exclude students who are “not poor enough” and a slew of improvements to residence conditions.
The hot potato of this year’s elections, an expanded bus system that will serve more campuses and surrounding taxi ranks, has also found its way onto Daso’s manifesto. The ambitious 18-point manifesto does contain some unique proposals such as video-recorded lectures and new mattresses for the beds in residences.
One contentious promise has been Daso’s intention to create a bail-out fund for “students who may lack finances for printing, supplementary exams, text books and excursions”.
Challenged on the precise amount of the proposed fund at election circuses around campuses, Daso candidates avoided going into details.
To entice students to be more involved in issues on campus, the party is promising to make student politics more fun.
Their manifesto promises to bring DJs and performing artists to liven up Student Forum, which is meant to be the platform for students to communicate with the sitting SRC.
Nelson Maunatlala urging students to vote for the PYA
PYA
The Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) is undoubtedly the most confident group of the whole bunch. One might say they have reason to be as they have been dominating the SRC for the past three years.
Most of the time when they address students at the circuses they talk about what the PYA-led SRC has achieved. They promise to continue to fight fee increments and increase the budget for school councils. They also promise to improve communication with students which includes having an SRC office on medical campus where students often feel left out.
They also love to sing, in fact they do so at most circuses. Project W’s Jamie Mighti has accused them of doing nothing but singing and dancing, but they make no apologies for their singing.
Mbe Mbhele of the PYA said they take SRC responsibilities very seriously. “This is not a joke, we are busy here.”
The PYA is an alliance between the ANC Youth League, Young Communist League, South African Student Congress and Muslim Student Association. Last year they won 14 of the 15 seats on the SRC.
Voting starts on August 27 and ends August 29.
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by Emelia Motsai | Aug 23, 2013 | Featured 1, News
A REAL CIRCUS: SRC electoral candidates speak to the Student Development and Leadership Unit’s Nicole Msomi after the Ernest Men storm out of an electoral circus. They were unhappy with the ground rules related to the number of questions they could ask, the amount of time candidates had to respond and general conduct throughout the session . Photo: Sibusisiwe Nyanda
AS CAMPAIGNING for SRC elections enters its last leg, one of the final circuses ended with a walkout after EOH students felt disrespected by an official from the Student Development and Leadership Unit (SDLU).
There was trouble from the start when the Ernest Men (residents of Ernest Oppenheimer House) murmured in disapproval as the SDLU’s Nicole Msomi read out the rules of engagement at the start of the circus. As the event went on, it became obvious they did not appreciate how they were addressed by the university official.
Msomi accused the Ernest Men of not wanting to play by the rules and not wanting the SDLU, who are coordinating the SRC elections, present at the residence.
The walk-out
The situation got worse during the question and answer period. One of the Ernest Men asked the Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) a question when it was the Democratic Alliance Student Association (Daso) turn to be queried.
“You see, you were not even listening,” said Msomi.
That was the last straw for the Ernest Men. They began heckling Msomi, then stood up and walked out. Some SRC candidates went after them in an unsuccessful attempt to get the Ernest Men to return.
“That woman, that woman, that woman…” muttered an Ernest Man.
[pullquote align=”right”]obvious they did not appreciate how they were addressed by the university official[/pullquote]
Following the walkout, Msomi gathered with campaign managers from the political organisations to discuss the way forward but they could not reach an agreement that would suit all the candidates.
Some of the candidates asked for rule changes and for Msomi to step down as the debate chair, but were rebuffed by the SDLU official.
Msomi then declared the EOH circus to be over and left the residence.
Pleading: SRC president and PYA candidate Yanga Nokwe appealed to EOH residents to return to the circus after they stormed walked out due to a disagreement with the SDLU representative who was coordinating the circus. Photo: Sibusisiwe Nyanda
The show must go on
However, after Msomi left, the circus resumed with the Ernest Men returning and the candidates organising what turned out to be a very civil debate. The EOH circus had started more than 30 minutes late because initially there were only a few students and PYA members in the audience. Project W candidate Jamie Mighti was one of those who tried to calm the situation at EOH.
Mighti had himself gotten into trouble earlier in the week on Monday when he was kicked out of a circus at Education Campus for misbehaviour. According to witnesses, Mighti got upset after a student asked why they should vote for him after he had accused students of having flat bums.
The student was referring to a Facebook spat the candidate had been involved in earlier this year.
The PYA has been the more confident political organisation. The SRC has been PYA-led for the past three years, allowing their candidates to campaign on an established record.
Daso candidates have displayed a lot of passion but have struggled to win over Witsies.
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by Emelia Motsai | Aug 23, 2013 | News
SRC vice president-internal Tokelo Nhlapo, promised that they (SRC), would give Wits Vice-chancellor a “political baptism”. Photo: Nolwazi Mjwara
By Emelia Motsai, Thuletho Zwane and Ray Mahlaka
Wits has arranged for another Israeli musician to perform at the university to make up for the concert that was disrupted in March.
After a concert was disrupted on March 12, the university asked the organisers how they could make up for the disruption “for those who had bought tickets but were not able to enjoy the concert”, according to Vice Chancellor Adam Habib.
A group of about 50 students, including at least nine SRC members, disrupted a concert by Israeli-born pianist Yossi Reshef in March. The concert happened during Israel Apartheid Week. Eleven students were later charged by the university for contravening the university’s code of conduct. Habib said the university and the SRC were meeting on Monday to discuss the issue.
Not on Our watch
[pullquote align=”right”]Habib said if he listened to everything the SRC had to say, his role as a vice chancellor would mean nothing[/pullquote]
SRC internal vice president Tokelo Nhlapo said they are “going to debate them. If they fail to debate us, we will use civil non-violent protest to show that the university is being used to cleanse the bloody image of Israel.”
Nhlapo said the concert would not happen on their watch. “We are not going to be silenced by the charges.”
Habib said that, even though the SRC was chosen to represent students, they should realise they did not represent the student body on all issues. “I have in my office a whole range of petitions saying they do not agree with what the SRC did and that I must continue to prosecute.”
Habib said if he listened to everything the SRC had to say, his role as a vice chancellor would mean nothing: “They would just tell me what to do.” University management wanted to “make sure the reputation of the university is not impugned”.
Sitting one the fence
Habib said the music department had been tasked with organising the new concert. They could not secure Reshef so another Israeli musician had been invited.
Habib denied the university had “taken sides” on the Israel-Palestine issue: “You can’t be a free space for ideas and say that one side is allowed and the other is not.”
Nhlapo disagrees. “We think it is hypocritical that the university will fight for the Dalai Lama but refuses to stand up to Israel.” He said they would not allow Habib to go against the values that Wits stood for.
“We are going to give Habib a political baptism.”
The concert will take place on August 28 at the Great Hall. The South African Zionist Federation said it would be open to everyone. The students who were charged are now facing disciplinary hearings, which will resume on September 25.
“If we are going to be expelled for protesting, then I don’t want to be a part of this university,”
said Nhlapo.
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by Emelia Motsai | Aug 23, 2013 | News
When I first saw that there were several independent candidates on the SRC list I was excited. That, to me, meant there were Witsies among us who were so brave and so passionate that they would go through the difficult process of running without an organisation or a big support structure behind them.
But my excitement was short- lived.
Firstly, most of the independent candidates did not make it to a lot of the circuses. As they are doing this on their own, I do understand that they would probably not be able to make it to all the circuses. But I really felt they missed way too many and they needed the platform more than all the other candidates running under well -known groups. I am not unsympathetic to their challenges, I realise that running for office and keeping up with school work can be challenging. But I do wonder, if they are unable to keep up now, how will they cope if they make it onto the SRC? The demands will surely be as bad, if not worse. What will they choose then?
[pullquote align=”right”]You remembered the guy who stood in front of you and gave you his best[/pullquote]
Tell me who you are
But this is not even my biggest problem. It might be okay to miss circuses but it is certainly not fine to come ill-prepared. Some of them were either ill -prepared or really had nothing to offer students.
If a candidate from Daso or the PYA or Project W messed up, there would be someone else from their group to pick up the slack and at least try to redeem the situation. When an independent candidate messes up, they’ve done just that and that is the end of the story.
One of the advantages of being an independent candidate is that they can connect with students on a personal level, students can identify with a fellow student better than they can with a group. They have the opportunity to get students to feel as if they know them, to get students to like them and trust them.
But some independent candidates waste their precious circus time on what the SRC has failed to do and spend very little or no time at all on what they want to do.
“If you want change, vote for me,” said one candidate.
“Who on earth are you?” I just wanted to scream out; he didn’t even mention his name at the beginning of his SRC-bashing speech.
[pullquote]But some independent candidates waste their precious circus time on what the SRC has failed to do and spend very little or no time at all on what they want to do.[/pullquote]
Do you want it badly enough?
The last thing that saddened me about this year’s SRC independent candidates is the lack of fire. The reason the other groups fight is because they are passionate, they want to get onto the SRC and they are willing to do whatever it takes to get in. You never leave a circus with any doubt that the PYA, Daso or Project W candidates want to win. You might be uncertain about why they want to win but you will have no doubt that they want to win.
Last year Welcome Lashivha ran as an independent candidate and he made it onto the SRC, the only non-PYA member to do so. I think one of the main reasons he won was because of the passion he displayed while campaigning. Even if you were not impressed with his manifesto, you still remembered him. You remembered the guy who stood in front of you and gave you his best.
Because if you are not going to give this your best, why even bother?
by Emelia Motsai | Aug 16, 2013 | News
Political posturing, promises and long analogies about “political boyfriends” have so far defined the 2013 SRC election campaign.
The SRC elections, to be held from August 27 to 29, are being fought by three political organisations as well as a slew of independent candidates.The Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA), Democratic Alliance Students Organisation (Daso) and political newcomer Project W, have been visiting student residences this past week in a series of circuses to make their pitches to the electorate.
I’m gonna do everything it takes to win your love again
The student political organisations all had their chance to give sweet promises to students.At Tuesday’s circus in Braamfontein Centre, Project W member Jamie Mighti gave a lengthy analogy where he compared campaigning by the PYA, who have dominated past SRCs, to him begging an old girlfriend to take him back.
“‘Give me more time, I’m gonna change, I’m gonna get my behaviour right and I’m gonna do everything it takes to win your love again’,” he recounted pleading. “She was wiser than most and she broke up with me. Because talk is cheap, this is not about talking. We are at the point of re-negotiating the relationship,” Mighti said.
[pullquote]She was wiser than most and she broke up with me. Because talk is cheap[/pullquote]
The audience, filled mostly with PYA sympathisers, laughed—though whether the laughter was with Mighti or directed at him was not clear. Mighti continued his attack and said it was under the PYA that Wits students had become second place to those at the University of Johannesburg (UJ).
But the PYA was ready for Mighti as they began to list their organisation’s past accomplishments in the SRC. “We’ve managed to get students buses to Bree and Noord. We’ve managed to get international students to pay their fees in instalments,” said PYA candidate Yanga Nokwe. She told students that it was a PYA-led SRC that got working lifts and wifi in Braamfontein Centre.
We are not political opportunists
SRC internal vice-president and PYA member, Joy Phiri, challenged Project W on their credentials and asked what experience they had leading students. At this point Daso, which had struggled for footing in the debate, quickly interjected and said that all of their candidates had already served in student leadership positions such as house comms and school councils.
“We are not political opportunists,” said Daso candidate Dikeledi Selowa. The circuses are designed to allow candidates to engage students and convince them to cast their votes. But they had the opposite effect on at least one student who thought the behaviour of the arguing candidates was “unruly”.
“Is this the type of people they are schooling us to be? I wasn’t impressed,” she said.
by Emelia Motsai | Aug 15, 2013 | Featured 1, News
Wits University recently held Cheerleading tryouts. Wits wants to introduce cheerleading to its sports events to make them more interactive and fun for spectators. About 25 girls came to the try outs but according to the coordinator, Nicole Herdman only ten made it. Herdman says because of requests from other girls who were unable to make it to the first tryouts there will be a second round of tryouts on September 12.
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by Nomatter Ndebele | Aug 12, 2013 | Featured 1, News
By Nomatter Ndebele and Emelia Motsai
Golden Key had a women’s day celebration at the Wits Art Museum on Wednesday. It was a black tie event and the speakers included Nondumiso Mzizana and Tryphosa Ramano. Sara Chitambo from Zazi, a national women’s campaign also spoke to the students.
by Emelia Motsai | Aug 12, 2013 | News
Wits plans to employ 30 new A-grade lecturers but current lecturers are concerned this might create a “two-tier” university.
Wits has committed around R30-million for these new lecturers as part of its mission to improve the university’s research output and profile. The president of the Academic Staff Association of Wits University (Asawu) David Dickinson said even though the organisation supports the recruitment of top academics they were concerned about the way their appointment was being suggested.
“We don’t want them to be isolated from other academics and lecturers,” said Dickinson.
Dickinson said they did not want a situation that creates two types of lecturers: “First grade lecturers whose only responsibility is research and second grade lectures who take on all the responsibilities of teaching.”
Dickinson said at the moment it sounded as if the new lecturers would be coming in to focus mainly on research: “Asawu’s view is that workloads should be equally distributed to allow all Wits academics to be research active and that Wits should not be allowed to become a ‘two-tier university’.”
In a recent e-mail he sent to lecturers, Dickinson said a recent survey of Wits academics indicated they were often over-burdened with teaching and administrative responsibilities that “crowd out” research.
[pullquote align=”right”]“First grade lecturers whose only responsibility is research and second grade lectures who take on all the responsibilities of teaching.”[/pullquote]
The importance of research
According to Dinesh Balliah, a new media lecturer at Wits, lecturers are expected to perform in three areas – teaching, administration and research: “Research is the most important one as lecturers get promoted based on their research.”
In the email, Dickinson asked lecturers who felt strongly about the appointments to send him their views. In less than 24 hours he said he had received over 40 responses.
“Lecturers welcome the appointments but they have concerns about the responsibilities of the new lecturers,” said Dickinson.
The positions will be advertised in major newspapers from August 16 to August 29 this year.
Wits also planned to add 100 more postdoctoral fellows to the 117 already existing. It wants to become more of a postgraduate, research-driven institution. This would bring “fresh ideas into the university – and some extensions of existing post-docs that are highly productive,” said Robin Drennan, director of research development at Wits.
by Shandu Mulaudzi | Aug 12, 2013 | News
by Shandukani Mulaudzi and Emelia Motsai
TEACHERS resigning from the Supreme Educational College in Braamfontein have left matric students stranded just before their preliminary exams.
A parent of two children attending the school, Gideon Ndlovu, said he was concerned his children were not learning anything at the school as teachers were resigning with no replacement staff.[pullquote align=”right”]“Teachers are not getting paid. It’s been two months now. They have been paying us R1 000 instead of our normal pay.”[/pullquote]
He said teachers were leaving because they were not being paid their full salaries as stipulated in their contracts. “My children are complaining, especially the one in grade 12 because she will be writing her matric soon and I cannot transfer them at this stage of the year,” Ndlovu said.
Strange pay agreements
A teacher, who asked not to be named out of fear of being victimised, confirmed that Supreme teachers were not being paid their full salaries.
“Teachers are not getting paid. It’s been two months now. They have been paying us R1 000 instead of our normal pay,” the teacher said.
[pullquote]“We were supposed to sign a paper saying even if they were to pay us R50, we would still teach.”[/pullquote]Three other teachers, who resigned from the school because of not being paid, agreed.
One of them, who asked not to be named, said on July 17 the teachers at the school had a meeting and they decided to give the school management a letter demanding all the money owed to them.
“But the next morning when we arrived there was a security guard at the reception. We were told not to go to the staff room or to the classrooms.”
She said they were told to wait at reception, then called into the manager’s office one by one.
“We were supposed to sign a paper saying even if they were to pay us R50, we would still teach,” said the teacher. She refused to sign the contract and left the school on that day.
Management denial
When Wits Vuvuzela went to the school, management refused to give their names: “Just refer to us as ‘the school management team’,” they said.
The management team said they had never received a complaint from a parent and were shocked by the allegation that they had no teachers.
They said they had replacements for the teachers who had resigned. They asked Wits Vuvuzela about its sources.
“These faceless people are making all these allegations all of a sudden. Why do they come to you? Why not to us, or the CCMA [Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration] or the department of education? In fact why not go to a reputable newspaper?” said one of them.
Government subsidy revoked
The teacher who is still at the school said he was shocked the school was facing financial difficulties because it received a government subsidy. However, the school was closed for almost a week in April because they had failed to pay the rent.
The school management team denied having financial issues, and said they were paying salaries agreed upon. But in a telephonic interview one of the managers admitted that the school was indeed having financial troubles.
She said the school had lost its subsidy because it received a less than 54% pass rate and they were now dependant on parents paying their fees, which some were not doing.
Management said publishing the article in Wits Vuvuzela would ruin the lives of other students.
“We have more than 20 students who come through these gates every year to learn for their studies. You are just spoiling this process. We don’t want to sit in court and start suing each other,” she said.
@ShanduMul
@emeliamotsai
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